Apparatus for extinguishing fires.



' J. OABANNING. APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES.

APPLICATION FILED 0UT.Z6,1906.

PATENTED AUG. 28, 1906.

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J. 0. BANNING.

APPARATUS FOR BXTINGUISHING FIRES. APPLICATION FILED 0012s, 1905.

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APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES. APPLICATION FILED 00T.26,1905.

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APPARATUS FOR EXT1NGUISHING FIRES.,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 28,1906.

Application filed October 26, 1905. Serial No. 284,414.

useful Improvements in Apparatus for EX- tinguishing Fires; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of this invention is to provide improved apparatus for release of pressure or means for generating pressure into a reservoir containing a fire-extinguishing fluid.

The invention consists in various details of construction and combinations of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed, the invention not being confined to the exact form of parts shown.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is an end elevation. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the pressure-releasing valve. Fig. i is a sectional detail, on a larger scale, of the pack ing for .the stem of the pressure-releasing valve. Fig. 5 is a top plan view, partially in section, of the sectional nut and latch for holding the same closed on the shank of the valve illustrated in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a front view showing the latch for latching the sectional nut'in latching position. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the weight and holder for releasing the latch for latching the sectional nut.

On the several views, 1 designates a closed tank for containing the extinguishing fluid.

2 designates a tank to contain fluid or air under pressure. The tank 2 is connected with the tank 1 by means of a pipe 3. This pipe may be constructed in two sections, that portion which is attached to the pressuretank 2 being clamped to that portion attached to the tank '1 by means of a screwclamp 2. In this pipe is a suitable valvecasing containing a valve-seat 3, on which seats a valve 4, having a shoulder 4*, threaded stem 4 and a handle 4, by means of which last the valvecan be turned toward and from the seat when the stem engages a split nut hereinafter described.

On the valve-casing is a threaded collar 5,

, g the upper end of which projects inward to form a shoulder against which the shoulder 4 in the valve-stem presses a washer 6 when the valve is lifted.

The split or divided nut comprises two parts 7 and 7 hinged together at their rear ends, as indicated at 7?. Between the sections of the divided nut is seated a spring 7 tending to throw them asunder. Pivoted at 7 d on one of the sections of the divided nut is a lever 8, having its shorter arm madewith an angular slot 8, into which projects a pin 7 on the other section of the divided nut. When the parts of the divided nut are closed on each other, they may be latched together in closed position by depressing the short arm of the lever 8 until the pin 7 is in the vertical part of the angular slot. The pressure of the spring 7 can be such as to engender enough friction to hold the lever in the position where it latches the sections of the nut together and at the same time permit the release of the sections when the longer arm of the lever is depressed by a blow of a falling weight, as hereinafter described.

As seen in Fig. 3, the parts of the split nut when closed embrace the threaded portion of the shank of the valve-stem, and the valve, as before stated, can be moved toward and from the. seat by turning the stem in said Fnut. As seen in Fig. 3, the parts of the split nut are made with a rentrant socket to close on a corresponding shape of the collar 5. When the sp it nut is closed, therefore, the valve is held from vertical movement from any position to which it is adjusted; but when the split nut is opened the valve is free to move vertically and upward off the seat either by pressure in the tank 2 or by means of aspring 9, encircling the stem and pressing upward against the shoulder 4..

The longer arm of the lever 8 is operated by means of a weight 1.0. This weight is provided with a pivoted bail 10, that engages one of three equidistantly spaced notches 11 in the edge of a wheel 11, journaled in a bracket 12, secured to the tank 1.

The wheel 11 is held from rotation until the proper occasion arises for its release by means of a latch-lever 13, the outer end of which is depressedby a spring 13 to engage one of three equidistantl -spaced notches 11 in the edge of said whee 11. The inner end of the latch-lever 13 is provided with an armature 13", which stands in position to be acted on by an electromagnet 14, the position of the parts being made such that when the magnet is energized the outer end of the latch-lever 13 will.be lifted to release the wheel 11 and permit the weight to drop.

The equidistant spacing of the notches 11 and 11 on a wheel 11 occasions an automatic setting of the Weight-holder to receive the Weight after it has been released. The weight can be guided in its descent and held in proper position b means of rodded frame 12, secured to theracket 12. To cushion the blow of the weight on the lever 8, a spring,

held plunger 12 can be secured in the crosspiece of the rodded frame 12*.

In practice the extinguishing fluid can be conducted from the tank 1 by a pipe 1 to any oint or points where its discharge is desire but generally where the apparatus is for stationary use the tank will be located in some place lower than the place of discharge as, for example, in the cellar. In this way the outlet for the tank may be in the lower part thereof and be constantly open; but this is not the only way in which the apparatus may be used.

When the pressure in the tank 2 is to be non-automatically released, an ordinary manually-operated push-button circuit-closer 15, located at some accessible or safe place, can be employed. 16 16 16 designate ordinary cells for generating the electricity for energizing the eleetromagnet, the wiring between them and the button and electromagnet being also indicated.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a fire-extinguishing apparatus, the combination of-a tank for containing a fireextinguishing fluid, a tank for containing fluid under pressure, a duct connecting the said tanks, a valve-seat in said duct, .a valve to engage said seat having a screw-threaded stem, a threaded split nut in which said stem works and by which said valve is held in position on the seat, means for latching the parts of said nut in position for holdin said valve, and means'for releasing said latc hing means.

2. In a fire-extinguishing apparatus, the combination of a tank for containing a fireextinguishing fluid, a tank for containing a fluid under ressure, a duct for connecting the said tan s, a valve-casing on said duct and a seat in said duct, a valve to-seat on said seat having a threaded stem provided with an annular shoulder, "said threaded stem extending into the casing, a shoulder on the valve-casing with which the shoulder on the stem cooperates to close the opening in the casing around the stem and a movable threadeddevice to engage the stem to hold the valve on the seat.

3. In a fire-extinguishing apparatus, the combination of a tank for containing a fluid under pressure, a tank to contain a fire-extinguishing fluid, a duct having a valve-seat connecting the said tanks, a valve-casing on said duct, a valve in said casing having a threaded stem to seat on said seat, a divided nut to engagethe threaded stem to hold the valve in said seat, and means for latching said divided nut in position to engage said thread.

4. In a fire-extinguishing apparatus, the combination of a tank for containing a fluid under pressure, a tank to contain a fire-extinguishing fluid, a duct having a valve-seat connectin said tanks, a valve-casing on said duct, a va vein said casing having a threaded stem to seat on said seat, a divided nut to engage the threaded stem to hold the valve on said seat, a spring tending to press the parts of said nut asunder, and means for latching said divided nut closed to engage said thread.

5. In a fire-extinguishing apparatus, the combination of a tank for containin a fluid under pressure, a duct having a va ve-seat connecting said tanks, a valve to seat on said seat, means for latching said valve on said seat, a weight to operate said latching means to release the same, a notched wheel for suspending said weight in position to operate said latching means, a latch to hold said wheel in weight-holding position, and an electrically-operative device to release the last named latch.

6. In a fire-extinguishing apparatus, the combination of a tank for containin a fluid under pressure, a duct having a va ve-seat connecting said tanks, a valve to seat on said seat, means for latching said valve on said seat, a weight to operate said latching means to release the same, a wheel provided with three equidistantly-spaced notches for suspending said weight in osition to operate said latching means, a atch to hold said wheel in weight-holding position, and an electrically-operative device to release the last named latch.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH O. BANNING. Witnesses:

GEORGE LINN, BENJ. FINoKEL. 

